Hockey has become such a widespread sport it is played manydifferent ways in many different places and there are so many fans. So why
don't many people don't know about the history of hockey? Hockey has been
around for centuries and had gone through a lot to become what it is today
Hockey has been around since early civilization such as theRome, Scotland, Egypt and South America. Evidence shows hockey was played even
before Christ.
It was a simple game played on a grass field with a ball anda stick. In fact, it was typically called "the ball and stick game"
there were many other names for it but the one that stuck was what the Irish
called it, "hockie."
It wasn't until the 17th and 18th century that the gamebecame unusually competitive. In England, different villages would play against
neighboring villages. Field hockey sticks
There were up to 100 players to a team. Games would last aslong as a month and players would get injured.
Instead of friendly competition, the game became aboutproving something and manhood. There were umpires but they barely made calls.
Not only had this sport become chaotic, hockey wasdangerous. People started to realize this and rules became a prominent part of
the game.
The rules were scarce at first but as time grew the rulesgained strength and complexity. The rules were established along with the
Hockey Association in 1875 by Eton College in England.
One of the major rules was giving the umpire more authority.This alone calmed the game down and made it more civilized.
Another rule limited the number of men allowed on the teamto 30. As the years passed more rules were added restricting the aggression and
organizing the way the game is played.
Today the dominant branch of hockey is ice hockey. Icehockey started in Montreal Canada in 1875. A Canadian legend says that Pierre
Lapin was the one to stumble upon the sport.
He used a crooked stick to help him walk across the ice.This all happened when he swung the stick at a piece of beaver bladder that had
surfaced.
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When he hit the bladder it traveled across the ice andlanded just short of a small bay, imitating the goal. Soon after this, the idea
developed into a game that would be worldwide!
Hockey today is huge! There are so many teams and they areconstantly in the media. The men and women who play are paid millions and have
contracts.
The fans are just as passionate as the players. There are somany ways to show your love for your team. Fans wear signed jerseys and
t-shirts and hats and have hockey stickers on their cars.
There is national league that these teams belong to. Hockeyhas become an enormous part of our culture.
Hockey then and hockey now are very different. In thebeginning there was chaos and no organization! Today, there are rules and
regulations and over three officials that run the game.
There used to be upwards of 100 players on a team. That hassince been limited. But although there are all these differences, the game has
not changed all that much.
The men who play now have the same love and passion for thegame that existed 4000 years ago. There is still that competitive spirit and
that adrenalin-rush that the players get when they step on to the field or the
ice. The men of these different times are really not that different.
What is different is the publicity of it. People didn't getto support their team in ancient times like fans do today. There was no spirit
wear, no hockey stickers, no team flags.
Village folk couldn't sit down in their huts and "putthe game on." Today we watch games on our TVs and sometimes if we are
lucky we get tickets to see the game in person.
There are significant differences, but these differenceshaven't changed the game at all.
"A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A greathockey player plays where the puck is going to be."- Wayne Gretzky This
quote transcends through past centuries and centuries to come.
This is what remained consistent in the game, the strategyand the passion to play. Visit us
